The Story of Tracy Beaker
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The Story of Tracy Beaker is a novel about a child in care by Jacqueline Wilson, which was published in 1991. The main character is Tracy Beaker, a young girl of ten. Tracy has 'behavioural problems', and can be considered very rude and naughty; furthermore, she is always telling tall tales. A recurring story that Tracy Beaker promulgates is that her mother is a Hollywood movie star, and that she is coming to collect her someday. No one is sure if these stories are true. The story also focuses on the other children in Stowey House Care Home (which is later relocated to Cliffside in the fourth TV show later Elm Tree House however, all who have lived there nick-name it The Dumping Ground by its residents), as well as the care and social workers. Tracy hates Elaine 'The Pain' Boyak, a social worker. Jacqueline Wilson has also written a sequel to the book called The Dare Game. A third book was released in October 2006, called "Starring Tracy Beaker".
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[edit] TV adaptation
The Story of Tracy Beaker has also been adapted into a BBC children's TV show of the same name. The first couple of series loosely incorporated the events of both The Story Of Tracy Beaker and The Dare Game. Later series have introduced more characters and new events not featured in any book, but these still keep with the same themes and the same central character of Tracy Beaker. Five series have been aired.
[edit] Other characters
Characters in both the book and TV series:
- Adele Azepadi, played by Rochelle Gadd: features in the first and second series. She is 16-years-old and in care while living a teenage life. Adele is often called on by head careworker, Jenny and cook, Duke to help out with the younger kids.
- Camilla "Cam" Lawson, played by Lisa Coleman: is a writer, and is also Tracy's 'on-off' foster Mum. She appears in all of the series and in the last episode of the fifth series, when she marries Garry, they both decide to adopt Tracy.
- Elaine "The Pain" Boyak, played by Nisha K. Nayar: is a fastidiuous care worker who appears in all five series.
- Jenny Edwards, played by Sharlene Whyte: is the head care-worker in the first and second series.
- Justine Littlewood, played by Montanna Thompson: is Tracy's enemy. She appears in all five series, but her role in the fourth series is minor (one episode), since her father takes her away from care during the third series. However in the fifth series she comes back.
- Steve Littlewood, first, second, third series and on and off in the fifth series, parent.
- Louise Guvan, played by Chelsie Padley: was Tracy's best friend, but is now Justine's best friend instead. She features quite heavily in the first and second series, and has a minor role in the third.
- Mike Milligan, played by Connor Byrne: is a guitar-playing care worker who appears in the first and fifth series. In the fifth series he has replaced Duke as chef but it is noted that his food is terrible.
- Peter Ingham, played by Joe Starrs: is Tracy's best friend before Ben comes. He appears in the first series only. Small and kind, he was dumped in the D.G. when his nan died and left when he was fostered by Terry and Jill Brown.
- The Doctor, a funny man who appeared out of nowhere in episode 23, when Tracy Beaker: accidentally causes a rift in time by bashing Elaine Boyak in the head with Justine Littlewood:'s shoes.
Characters who only appear in the TV series:
- Amber Hearst, played by Alicia Hooper: features in the second series. She is in care and is always on the run from the foster home but to distract herself always finds pleasure in being naughty in various ways. Gets fostered by the end of the second series.
- Alice: is featured in the fifth series only. She is good friends with Layla and believes in magic and fairies. She thinks Roxy's her best friend, despite Roxy's hatred of her.
- Ben Batambuze, played by Luke Youngblood: Tracy's best friend during the first, second, and third series. He is not in care but often visits the care home with pleasure as his parents are always busy.
- Bradley "Bouncer" Plakova, played by Ben Hanson: is in care. He loves cooking, football and girls. He appears in the second, third, fourth and fifth series.
- Carrie: is married to Justine's father. Second, third and fifth series.
- Chantal Wellard, played by Deepal Parmar:
- Rio Wellard, played by Craig Roberts:
- Roxy Wellard, played by Sophie Borja (Sophie Borja-Edwards): are the enemies of everyone at the dumping ground. They are in care, and appear in the fourth and fifth series. Roxy, while the youngest, is undoubtedly the leader and has the whole Dumping Ground under her thumb. Next is Rio, the idiot, who doesn't even know who his Dad is. Last is Chantal, the most sensitive. She's fostered in the second episode of the Fifth Series.
- "Liam (Crash)", played by Darragh Mortell: so named because he is always smashing things when he is in a rage, is in care, and appears in the third, fourth and fifth series. In the fifth series, where he is the main character his name turns out to be Liam. Has romantic issues with Justine.
- Leah: was a temporary care worker in one episode in the first series when Jenny went to hospital. She used to be a resident of the DG.
- Dolly, played by Chloe Hibbert-Waters: is a girl in care, whose favourite care worker is Nathan. She appears in the second and third series.
- [[Nathaniel 'Duke' ?]], played by Clive Rowe: is a care worker and a busy chef. He appears in series one, two, three and four. He was also mentioned in series five (he was in the Caribbean).
- 'Flying' Freddie Mercer: is Jackie's grandpa's friend and appears in the fourth and fifth series
- Garry is a man who eventually marries Cam in the show's finale, and appears in the fifth series only.
- Hayley, played by Kirstal Lau: is a very quiet girl, who is in care. She appears in the third and fourth series and eventually gets fostered. Is best friends with Layla.
- Laurence "Lol" Plakova, played by Ciaran Joyce: is Bouncer's younger brother, who is also in care. He has bags of confidence and charm and is a wheeler-dealer. More intelligent than most, especially his brother, Bouncer, Lol sometimes challenges Tracy as Scam-Master of the D.G. He appears during the second, third, fourth and fifth series.
- Layla, played by Cara Readle: a girl with cerebal palsy, is best friends with Hayley and loves wildlife and swimming. She appears during the third, fourth and fifth series.
- Marco Maloney, played by Jack Edwards: loves dressing up. He has many costumes, and has been known to wear alien, bat, dog and snake charmer costumes. He features in the third, fourth and fifth series.
- Maxie : appears in the first series only, in a minor role. He is the comical little boy of the Dumping Ground.
- Michael, played by William Tomlin: is a minor character in the third series. He is in care. He had a crush on Louise and is known for being an unpopular snitch.
- Milly, played by Holly Gibbs: is a silent girl who speaks only twice in the show. She appears in the fifth series where she is eventually fostered and turns into Marco's sister.
- Nathan, played by James Cartwright (Jamie Cartwright): is a trainee care worker, famous for saying 'dude.' He features in the second and third series.
- Sofia': is a foreign girl who cannot speak English. She appears in one episode in the third series and shares a room with Tracy.
- Rebecca Chalmers, played by Georgina Hagen: is the "new girl" who is an enemy of Justine Littlewood, and hates having her name shortened to 'Becky', 'Becs' etc., which Justine regularly does. She appears in the fifth series.
- Zac and Ryan, played by Sonny Muslim (Scott Muslim) and Jay Haher are twins in care, who appear in the first series. They are the 'ancestors' of Lol and Bouncer, being wheeler-dealers themselves. They Are Arsenal supporters in the show.
- Shelley, played by Nicola Reynolds: is head care worker in the third series and had a minor role in the fifth series (two episodes). Shelly gets to run the Dumping Ground twice in a row!
- Sid Rooney is head care worker in the fourth series.
- Wilson is a boy who features in two episodes in the third series, while his mother is in hospital. Tracy rather falls for him.
- Wolfie is a rich boy, who became attracted to the hard way of living. He appears in the fourth and fifth series.
- Carly Beaker Tracy's mum in the film. Carly doesn't show much care for Tracy.
- Jackie Hopper Only two things matter to Jackie --- running and her only family: her Grandpa. Her Grandpa has Alzheimer's Disease and is in a care home, but Jackie insists that he isn't. At the start of the third series she tried to run away. At the beginning of Series 4, Jackie was devastated when her Grandpa died, and at the end of the series she left the D.G. to join a running academy. In the fifth series she pretended she had broken her foot so she could return to the D.G. because she missed the DG and was desperate to get back (She even missed Elaine. Quote to Tracy; "Elaine! That is desperate!")
- Constance Summers A strict Careworker who takes over for Sid, while he practices his play wirh Cam, Much to the kid's disapproval! It is up to Tracy Beaker to save the day!
[edit] Characters that appear in the book only
- Peggy and Sid Tracy's first foster parents that she didn't like.
- Juile and Ted Tracy's second foster parents that she liked but when they had their own child Tracy had to go into care. A couple is seen taking Tracy back to the Care Home at the beginning of the first series, and it is assumed it is them.
- Camilla the little girl in the other home that Tracy liked. Slightly like Dolly in Series 3
- Justine's little brothers they had to be taken into care when Justine's Mum left.
- Violet and Stanley the couple who wanted to foster Peter Ingham. Another couple fostered Peter in the first series.
[edit] Characters that appear in 'The Dare Game' only
- Alexander A boy who Tracy met when she played truant. He is a softie, and gets bullied at school.
- Football Another boy who Tracy met when she played truant. He is tough. Slightly like Bouncer in Series 2 - 5
- Alexander's Parents Alexander's Parents. His mum is a
- Roxanne One of Tracy's enemies at school. Resembles Roxy Wellard in series 3-5 in both appearance (both have a ponytail) and personality.
